Background and Aims
Bowel function requires coordinated activity of diverse enteric neuron subtypes. Our aim was to define gene expression in these neuron subtypes to facilitate development of novel therapeutic approaches to treat devastating enteric neuropathies, and to learn more about enteric nervous system function.
Methods
To identify subtype–specific genes, we performed single-nucleus RNA-seq on adult mouse and human colon myenteric plexus, and single-cell RNA-seq on E17.5 mouse ENS cells from whole bowel. We used immunohistochemistry, select mutant mice, and calcium imaging to validate and extend results.
Results
RNA-seq on 635 adult mouse colon myenteric neurons and 707 E17.5 neurons from whole bowel defined seven adult neuron subtypes, eight E17.5 neuron subtypes and hundreds of differentially expressed genes. Manually dissected human colon myenteric plexus yielded RNA-seq data from 48 neurons, 3798 glia, 5568 smooth muscle, 377 interstitial cells of Cajal, and 2153 macrophages. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated differential expression for BNC2, PBX3, SATB1, RBFOX1, TBX2, and TBX3 in enteric neuron subtypes. Conditional
Tbx3
loss reduced NOS1-expressing myenteric neurons. Differential
Gfra1
and
Gfra2
expression coupled with calcium imaging revealed that GDNF and neurturin acutely and differentially regulate activity of ∼50% of myenteric neurons with distinct effects on smooth muscle contractions.
Conclusion
Single cell analyses defined genes differentially expressed in myenteric neuron subtypes and new roles for TBX3, GDNF and NRTN. These data facilitate molecular diagnostic studies and novel therapeutics for bowel motility disorders.
Macrophages in SHH subgroup medulloblastoma display dynamic heterogeneity that varies with treatment modality Graphical abstract Highlights d Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) subgroup of medulloblastoma (MB) recruits diverse macrophages d Radiation or molecular-targeted therapy alters macrophage distribution in SHH-MB d Radiation recruits immunosuppressive monocyte-derived macrophages (TAMoMacs) in SHH-MB d Radiation-induced TAMoMacs regulate CD8 T cell and neutrophil numbers in SHH-MB
Our results suggested that rs16826658 and rs3820282 polymorphisms on WNT4 gene might be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis in the infertile women studied. Analysis of WNT4 genetic variants might help to identify patients at high risk for disease development.
The data suggest that the OC-125 antibody is probably related to endometriosis activity and, consequently, to the progression and severity of the illness.
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